JPH06141006A - Program delivery device - Google Patents

Abstract

(57) [Summary] [Object] An object of the present invention is to provide a program distribution apparatus that reduces the request rejection rate, increases the number of programs that can be selected by subscribers, and has a small line traffic. . [Structure] A plurality of center facilities 101, 102, 103 are provided, and the center facility 101 generates a request to a program source 108, a subscriber facility 105 or a request receiving means 109 for receiving a request from another center facility, and a request to another center facility. This is a configuration including request generating means 112 and program receiving means 110 for receiving a program from another center facility.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a program distribution device for distributing programs from a center facility to subscribers.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, a request type program distribution apparatus has been composed of a subscriber facility having a request generating means and a program receiving means, and a center facility having a program source and a request receiving means.

FIG. 5 is a block diagram showing an example of a conventional program distribution apparatus. In FIG. 5, the subscriber facility 505 requests a desired program to the center facility by the request generating means 513, and the center facility 501 determines that the program corresponding to the request received by the request receiving means 509 exists in the program source 508. Is sent to the subscriber facility 505.

[0004]

The conventional program distribution device has a problem that the request is rejected and the program cannot be received unless the desired program exists in the program source 508.

It is an object of the present invention to provide a program distribution device that reduces the rejection rate of requests, increases the number of programs that can be selected by subscribers, and has less line traffic.

[0006]

In order to achieve the above object, the program distribution apparatus of the present invention comprises a plurality of center facilities, and the center facility comprises a program source and the subscriber facility or another center facility. Request receiving means for receiving a request from another center facility, request generating means for generating a request to another center facility, and program receiving means for receiving a program from another center facility.

Further, in order to reduce the communication amount of the line, a branching unit for branching a program output from the program receiving unit to the subscriber facility or another center facility and outputting it to the program source is provided.

[0008] Also, a program search means for searching a program held by another center facility, and a program response for receiving a search from another center facility and outputting a search result of a program held by a program source in the own center facility. Means may be provided, and a configuration may be provided in which program information storage means for storing the search result output by the program search means is provided.

Also, the program server equipment is provided with the program server means for retrieving programs held by the center equipment, a program database for managing the results of the program retrieving means, and the programs received by the center equipment for receiving programs. The program is provided with a program response means for searching the database and outputting the search result to the center equipment. The center equipment makes a program search means for inquiring the program server equipment about the center equipment holding a desired program and a program search from the program server equipment. The program response means receives the search result of the program held by the program source in the center facility and outputs it to the program server facility.

[0010]

The program distribution device of the present invention has the above-mentioned configuration.
If the desired program does not exist in the center equipment directly connected to the requesting subscriber equipment, the center equipment sends the request for the program to the other center equipment by the request generation means and holds the program. The program receiving means receives the program sent from the center facility and sends it to the subscriber facility.

Further, the program is also sent to the program source by the branching means, and by recording in the program source, it becomes unnecessary to request the other center equipment again when the program is requested next time.

Further, the program search means makes it possible to search for a program held by another center facility and issue a request only to the center facility holding the program, so that it is possible to eliminate unnecessary requests. It is possible.
Further, the program information storage means for storing the result retrieved in advance accelerates the processing of the request and reduces the line traffic.

Further, in the configuration including the program server equipment, the program server equipment acquires the program information held by each center equipment by the program search means and manages the program database. The program response means receives the program search from the center facility, searches the program database, and outputs the result to the center facility.

[0014]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS A program distribution apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 is a block diagram of a program distribution device according to a first embodiment of the present invention.

In FIG. 1, 101 to 103 are center facilities, which are a program source 108, a request receiving means 109 for receiving a program request, a program receiving means 110 for receiving a program, and a request for a program to another center facility. Request generation means 112 for generating a request, multiplex / separation means 114 for connection with each subscriber equipment, and transmission / reception signals such as programs and requests with other center equipment and various signals for transmission / reception. And a control means 117 for controlling the program source 108, the request receiving means 109, the program receiving means 110, and the request generating means 112. Each center facility has a multiplexing / demultiplexing means. It is connected to each subscriber facility via.

Subscriber facilities 104 to 107 are used by the subscribers to request programs to the center facility.
Each subscriber facility has a multiplexing / demultiplexing means for receiving a program from each center facility and transmitting / receiving a signal for requesting a program. For example, the subscriber facility 10
5 has multiplexing / demultiplexing means 115, and the subscriber equipment 105 and the center equipment 101 are multiplexed / demultiplexing means 114 and 11.
It is connected via 5. Further, the subscriber facility 105
Has a program receiving means 111 for receiving a program from the center equipment 101 and a request means 113 for requesting a program, receives a program from the center equipment 101 via the multiplexing / demultiplexing means 115, and The program can be requested to 101.

The operation of this embodiment having the above-described structure will be described. First, the subscriber equipment 105 uses the request generation means 113 to send a desired program to the center equipment 10.
Request to 1. The center equipment 101 receives the request sent from the subscriber equipment 105 by the request receiving means 109, and the control means 117 determines whether or not the requested program is in the program source 108.

If the program exists in the program source 108,
The program is sent from the program source 108 to the subscriber facility 105, and the subscriber facility 105 receives the program with the program receiving means 111. On the other hand, when the program does not exist in the program source 108, the request generation means 112 requests the other center facilities 102 and 103. As a result of the request, if at least one center facility holds the program, the program is received from the center facility and sent to the subscriber facility 105. If none of the center facilities own the program, the request is rejected.

As described above, according to the present embodiment, even if the program does not exist in the center equipment 101, if the program exists in the other center equipment, the subscriber equipment 10
5 can receive the program.

The second embodiment of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings. FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing the second embodiment of the program distribution apparatus of the present invention. The second embodiment is different from the first embodiment in that a branching means is provided between the program receiving means and the program source, and the configuration other than the branching means is the same as that of the first embodiment. Since they are substantially the same, detailed description thereof will be omitted.

In FIG. 2, 218 is a program receiving means 21.
It is a branching unit provided between 0 and the program source 208.
In the present embodiment, the program received by the program receiving means 210 is branched by the branching means 218 and the subscriber facility 205 and the program source 2 are branched.
08, and the program source 208 stores the program.

Therefore, according to the configuration of the present embodiment, the program once requested is accumulated in the program source 208.
When the program is requested next time or later, there is no need to request the program to another center facility again, and it is possible to reduce the communication volume of the line between the center facilities.

The third embodiment of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings. FIG. 3 is a block diagram of a program distribution device according to a third embodiment of the present invention. The third embodiment differs from the second embodiment in that the center equipment is newly provided with a program search means and a program reply means.
Since the other structure is substantially the same as that of the second embodiment, detailed description thereof will be omitted.

In FIG. 3, the program retrieving means 319 transmits a retrieval signal for retrieving the programs owned by each of the center facilities 302 and 303, and receives the program information transmitted from the center facilities. Also, the program response means 320
Receives the search signal sent from the center equipment 302, 303, searches the program source 308, and outputs the program information held by the own center equipment.

As described above, according to the present embodiment, by providing the program search means and the program response means, it becomes possible for each center equipment to grasp which center equipment owns which program. It becomes possible to process the request from the subscriber facility in a short time.

If the program information storage means for storing the search result output from the program search means 319 is provided,
The response to the request will be faster and more efficient.

The fourth embodiment of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings. FIG. 4 is a block diagram of the program distribution apparatus according to the fourth embodiment of the present invention. The fourth embodiment is different from the third embodiment in that a program server facility is newly provided, and other configurations are substantially the same as those in the third embodiment, and therefore, the configuration other than the program server facility is used. Detailed description of the configuration is omitted.

In FIG. 4, the program search means 419 transmits a search signal for searching a program to the program server equipment 403, and receives the program information sent from the program server equipment. Further, the program response means 420 is the program server facility 4
03, the program source 408 is received, and the program information held by the own center facility is output. In the program server facility 403, the program program searching means 4
22 transmits a search signal for searching a program to the center facility programs 401 and 402, and receives the program information transmitted from the center facility programs 401 and 402. Program database 4
Reference numeral 24 manages the search result by the program search means 422.
Program response means 423 is program server equipment 401, 402
Receives search signals from the program database 4
24 is searched and the information of the program is output to the center facility.

As described above, according to the present embodiment, it becomes possible to know which center equipment owns the program by simply inquiring the program server for any center equipment, and request from the subscriber equipment. Can be processed at a higher speed, and the amount of communication on the line between the center facilities can be reduced.

In any of the embodiments, the number of center facilities may be any number of 2 or more. Further, the number of subscriber facilities connected to the center facility may be arbitrary.

[0031]

As described above, the program distribution apparatus of the present invention is provided with a plurality of center equipments, and the center equipments include a program source and request receiving means for receiving a request from the subscriber equipment or another center equipment. A center directly connected to the subscriber facility that has made a request by having a configuration that includes request generation means for generating a request to another center facility and program reception means for receiving a program from another center facility. Even if the desired program does not exist in the facility, the subscriber facility can receive the program if the relevant program exists in the other center facility.

Further, by providing branch means for branching a program output from the program receiving means to the subscriber facility or another center facility and outputting it to the program source, when the program is requested again from the next time onward, another center is again provided. Eliminates the need to request equipment.

Further, a program search means for searching a program owned by another center facility, and a program response for receiving a search from another center facility and outputting a search result of a program owned by a program source in the own center facility. By providing the means, the response to the request can be made faster and more efficient. Furthermore, it is more effective to have a configuration including program information storage means for storing the search result output by the program search means.

Further, the program server facility is provided with the program server means for retrieving the programs held by the center facility, the program database for managing the results of the program retrieving means, and the program receiving the retrieval from the center facility. The program is provided with a program response means for searching the database and outputting the search result to the center equipment. The center equipment makes a program search means for inquiring the program server equipment about the center equipment holding a desired program and a program search from the program server equipment. The function of each center equipment is simplified and response to the request is provided by providing the program response means for receiving and outputting the search result of the program held by the program source in the own center equipment to the program server equipment. The speed is increased and the communication amount is reduced.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a configuration diagram of a program distribution device according to a first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a configuration diagram of a program distribution device according to a second embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 3 is a configuration diagram of a program distribution device according to a third embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 4 is a block diagram of a program distribution device according to a fourth embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 5 is a block diagram of a conventional program distribution device.

[Explanation of symbols]

 101, 102, 103 Center equipment 201, 202, 203 Center equipment 301, 302, 303 Center equipment 401, 402 Center equipment 104, 105, 106, 107 Subscriber equipment 204, 205, 206, 207 Subscriber equipment 304, 305, 306, 307 Subscriber facilities 404, 405, 406, 407 Subscriber facilities 108, 208, 308, 408 Program sources 109, 209, 309, 409 Request receiving means 110, 111 Program receiving means 210, 211 Program receiving means 310, 311 Program receiving means 410, 411 Program receiving means 112, 113 Request generating means 212, 213 Request generating means 312, 313 Request generating means 412, 413 Request generating means 114, 115, 116 Multiplexing / separating means 14, 215, 216 Multiplexing / separating means 314, 315, 316 Multiplexing / separating means 414, 415, 416, 421 Multiplexing / separating means 117, 217, 317, 417 Control means 218, 318, 418 Branching means 319, 419, 422 Program search means 320, 420, 423 Program response means 403 Program server equipment 424 Program database

 ─────────────────────────────────────────────────── ─── Continuation of the front page (72) Inventor Takahisa Sakai 1006 Kadoma, Kadoma City, Osaka Prefecture Matsushita Electric Industrial Co., Ltd.

Claims (5)

[Claims] 1. A plurality of center facilities and subscriber facilities, said subscriber facilities comprising request generating means and program receiving means, said center facilities being program sources and said subscriber facilities or other centers. A program comprising request receiving means for receiving a request from the facility, request generating means for generating a request to another center facility, and program receiving means for receiving a program from another center facility Delivery device. 2. The program distribution apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising branching means for branching a program output from the program receiving means to the subscriber facility or another center facility and outputting it to the program source. 3. A program search means for searching a program owned by another center facility, and a search result of a program owned by a program source within the own center facility to the center facility by receiving a search from the other center facility. 3. The program distribution device according to claim 1, further comprising a program response means for outputting. 4. A program information storage means for storing the search result output from the program search means.
The described program distribution device. 5. A program server facility, wherein the program server facility retrieves programs owned by the center facility, a program database managing results of the program retrieval means, and a search from the center facility. Program searching means for searching the program database and outputting the search result to the center equipment, the center equipment searching program means for inquiring center equipment holding a desired program to the program server equipment, and the program server 3. A program response means for receiving a program search from a facility and outputting a program search result held by a program source in the center facility to the program server facility. Program distribution device.